Pollster J. Brad Coker said the job-performance rating is a sign that Clinton's chances of surviving the scandal depend on the economy.

``In the wake of his confession of marital infidelity, his acknowledgement of misleading the public and the release of the Starr report, that job-performance rating isn't bad,'' Coker said. ``But his popularity is hurt terribly, and if the economy takes a turn for the worse, Clinton will be in very bad shape.''

The poll was conducted for The Orlando Sentinel by Mason-Dixon Political/Media Research on Sept. 22-24. Pollsters conducted telephone interviews with 815 registered Florida voters who said they vote in most, if not all, statewide elections.

The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. That means there is a 95 percent chance that if all of Florida's voters could be polled, the result would fall within the range of 3.5 percentage points.

Clinton's popularity in the Republican-leaning state always has been tenuous. He lost Florida to President Bush in 1992 and barely won here against U.S. Sen. Bob Dole in 1996.

But last month - before the Starr report - there were signs Florida voters were willing to forgive Clinton. Then, 60 percent of those polled said the president should not resign; now, 54 percent hold that view.

Now, 43 percent think the president should be removed from office if it is shown he committed perjury. In August, 36 percent felt that way.

``As people learn more and more about the details, his support slips further,'' Coker said.